A Windy Day

This week had got away from me with sorting my photos from my last day out, then having a photo challenge in my photo group. This one was black and white photos I had to add one a day to the group for constructive criticism. My next challenge with the group is TOSS and that is much harder, you have to TOSS something in the air then photograph it. That is something a bit different for me, and I'm finding it hard to think of what to do, but I will get there, the weekend is here well almost so I can see what I can do over it and hopefully get some good shots.

Again with the weather forecast predicting it to be 30 degrees, we decided to head off down the coast to the beach, it was warm in the car with the sun streaming through the window and our teenage daughter in the back with her two friends giggling.

I felt a pang of nervousness, as our teen daughter asked if she cold drive the car for a short time to get her hours up, so she can go for her license early next year. As she climbed into the front seat of our Ford and buckled her seat belt. I think she felt as nervous as I did having her in the drivers seat. I sat in the passenger seat, helping guide her along the way. Just before the road merged into the freeway she decided it was time to let her father take over again. After a shaky start and not always being straight she improved as she went on.

We arrived in Torquay to a gray and very windy day, so much for the 30 degrees that they predicted. It wasn't such a good day for my camera or to go for that swim we were all so looking forward to. With sand blowing everywhere, as the girls headed off down the steps to the beach I gathered up my towel and my camera bag and with my hair blowing in my face I proceeded to take the steps to the beach, brushing the hair from my face so I could see the next step.

The waves were very flat, although a couple of surfers swam out hoping for a wave, but sadly only a few small waves came in to greet the sand, and the surfers walked slowly back to their towels and headed home with disappointed looks on their faces.

I did manage to get a couple of photos but sadly not as many as I hoped for. I was very scared with all the wind that my camera would be full of sand. I had a suggestion from someone after the day, they said next time wrap camera in plastic wrap, something I'd ever thought of before but not such a bad idea.  I kept my camera bag closed as I didn't want any sand in it and only used my 55 - 250mm lens which has become my favorite lens at the moment

 

Calm waters

 

 Not good for windsurfing

 

 Surfer hoping to catch a few waves

 Para Sailor Woosh

For us it was a really good day despite it not being so good for swimming and a tad windy, we made the most of the day, eating fish and chips in the car as we watched the waves on the beach, a lovely walk along the beach and a few nice photographs taken all made for a lovely day.

 

Torquay Beach

 

 

 Torquay countryside

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Sunday Walk

Today is a bit of a grey day, back to the cold dreary days again and it is supposed to be Spring. As the days turn into week and Christmas draws ever so much closer and life passes us by, with a blink of an eye and my kids get older, and as I watch my daughter deciding her career path as she heads towards the end of her school days next year.

Life just moves way too fast. 3 weeks ago the decorations appeared in the shops for Christmas. Wow I thought, already that time of year again, I was thinking it was much further away. I suppose Christmas hasn't been really important to me since I lost my mum and the kids have now grown up, that fun time of hiding their presents from Santa is long gone, putting the milk and cookies on the bench and madly typing up a letter for them which is supposed to be from Santa seem like such a long long time ago.

My weekends now are taken up with spending time with my beloved going out with our cameras taking in the beautiful country which we live in, and the last weekend wasn't any different. We spent a beautiful Sunday walking along the path next to the Yarra River in the beautiful sunshine on a lovey 28 degrees day. Sitting on the side of the river where 14 little ducklings and two mother ducks, how sweet they were. Standing beside his racing bike was a chap decked out in his ridding gear with his curly hair all wind blown and his gloves pulled on tightly which held onto the helmet which he'd just taken off, who made a comment to us about the ducks and how cruel people can be,  as he wiped the sweat from his brow, for the next hour and a half he and my beloved chatted about all sorts of things with him, whilst I managed to get a few photos in.

 

Mother duck went out one day

 

I stood and watched the people walk past, some were well dressed, others looked quite unkempt. All nationalities walked past, couples hand in hand some alone, others with excited children running past. People on bikes young and old riding along the path to who knows where, trying to doge that person who was in no hurry at all to go anywhere. 

People sat on the grass and took in the sun, whilst others stood around the elusive BBQ and cooked sausages with onion which wafted up my nose, oh I wish I could have walked over to them and said I'm here for my sausage in bread.

Finally I was able to prize my beloved away from the chap he was chatting to and was then able once again to continue our lovely walk along the Yarra River, although the sun had gone in and the breeze was getting a bit cool it was still a lovely walk.

Melbourne overlooking theYarra River

 

Swan Street Bridge over the Yarra River

 

Melbourne has so many pretty gardens and walks, lots of trees and pretty flowers, I even managed to grab a shot of one flower as I was walking past.

 

There are always lots of people about some with children others alone, we sat for a bit watching the boats on the river and a row boat from the rowing club near by would glide past as they trained on the river. People sat with their phones texting or looking at something, others sat with books, some just lied in the sun and took it in as the world passed  them by.

 Boats on Yarra River

 

Swan Street bridge over Yarra River

Is that your soccer ball? If you look closely you will see it.

Hopefully some poor child isn't in tears for their loss.

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